A-1 Pictures did the unthinkable when they took up Solo Leveling for adaptation. This is true for the superior animation and top-tier fights, but most of all, pacing. Yes, it isn’t a cakewalk to execute perfectly paced arcs and development, particularly when it comes to most Manhwa.

Take Tower of God, for example, which is critiqued for its haphazard and rushed pacing. To ensure that, studios often take a chunk from the source material and omit most scenes, and this is exactly what happened with Chugong’s series. Except for a scene that deserves its due mention.

To be specific, the studio made a wise decision by keeping this unique scene in Season 2 that outlined Sung Jinwoo’s bloodlust. It contrasts with fans’ discontent that stems from the series’ inauthenticity and inaccuracy. But this is something most fans can collectively agree upon.

A-1 Pictures’ move toward authenticity

Before working on Chugong’s series,...